Prominent US Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday at the age of 71 after a “short and unexpected illness”, his office said.
Graham, known for his work on foreign policy, was a staunch supporter of the Iran war and in recent years urged the Trump and Biden administrations to support Kiev’s fight against the Russian occupation.
“On Saturday evening, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away after a brief and unexpected illness,” the Republican senator from South Carolina said in a statement on his official X account.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and requests privacy during this extremely difficult time.”
Trump paid tribute to the influential senator on Sunday, calling him “one of the greatest people” in a post on his Truth Social page.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known, has passed away! He always worked and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!”
Graham made a failed bid for the presidency in 2016, warning at the time that Republicans should not support Trump because he was a “racist, xenophobic, religious bigot.”
Their relationship was strained by the January 6, 2021, Capitol uprising, with Graham saying that his Republican colleagues should “count me in, enough is enough” — though he later voted against Trump’s conviction in his impeachment trial.
Graham reconciled their relationship after Trump returned to office and supported his re-election bid.
– “A great friend of Israel” –
Graham was also a strong supporter of Israel and a staunch supporter of the Iran war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a dear friend of mine.”
“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He dedicated his life to protecting America, strengthening our alliance and protecting the free world,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the news left him “shocked and angry”.
“Senator Graham was a beacon of moral clarity and a true leader of the US-Israel partnership,” he said in a post on X.
“We will never forget how he stood by the people of Israel in our most difficult moments, and we will remain eternally grateful for his sense of justice, truth and loyalty,” Herzog said.
– “Irreplaceable” –
Graham was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 1994, before being elected to the Senate in 2002.
He was later re-elected to the Senate in 2008, 2014 and 2020 and most recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described Graham as “irreplaceable.”
“The fiercest fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend,” McMaster said in a post on X.
Graham served as a military lawyer and attained the rank of Air Force colonel, an experience that informed his interventionist stance on foreign policy.
In 2002, he voted in favor of military action against Iraq after the 9/11 attacks, and later supported a long-term US presence in Afghanistan.
Graham was a frequent critic of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, calling him a “weak opponent of evil” in 2015 over his negotiation of a nuclear deal with Iran.
Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Friday, where he reportedly backed tougher economic sanctions against Russia and its allies.
Zelensky told X that he appreciated Graham’s support, noting that it was the US senator’s tenth visit to his country.
